Thank you for your quick response RSH. You have to understand that I am relatively new at all this, so forgive me if I goof up here and there.
I tested the script with your suggestions, but unsuccesfully I'm afraid.

I called your script /usr/local/bin/autodesktop-restore.

In xwin, I called it like this:

$ /usr/local/bin/autodesktop-restore

I did this right before X is being started (#finally, start X..)
It does run. At least, I am not getting any messages suggesting otherwise. However, the icons keep appearing, and the desktop-restore script does not run with the line 34:

[ "$1" == "-r" ] && restore && restartwm

changed to:

[ "$1" == "-r" ] && restore #&& restartwm

So I had change that back to get my normal desktop back again. With desktop-restore back to its old self, the icons also keep appearing at reboot btw.

It's entirely possible that I have made some silly mistake along the way. Great to have your input though!

By the way: there must be a line where it says 'created with pupmode=5' or similar to this. I would recommend to insert /usr/local/bin/autodesktop-restore before that line or somewhere when delayedrun is called.

----I am only 2 weeks user of Puppy-Slako-5.7.0------ previously using Win versions for several years. After 2 weeks of using it, my family decided to stay with puppy for at least next 3 years. No experiments, but keep using the system for our needs ---------

My wish list:

1. VLC should be made a standard component and get rid of present players - they are just not up to the mark (this point is already suggested by many users on this forum since from 2013?)

2. Add a new feature for 'Create Wi-Fi Hotspot' or 'Share your Internet Connection'. This is almost straight forward, even I could get it from reading some threads on this forum. But a simple icon/ or a button somewhere would be great.

3. Printer: I happened to experiment with Ubuntu last week. Adding (identification of) printer is very simple, I would say much better than Windows. CUPS in puppy is fine, but could not detect a few network printers on the network (we tried in my wife's office, where they have several network printers all over). Then CUPS is not really intuitive as Ubuntu at least as we felt.

4. IMP: There are several outdated packages for puppy all over. I would suggest maintain thread - with latest set somewhere, well tested etc. I had hell of a problem when was installing Thunderbird - too many package out there. I am not sure if this could impact some guys who were using older puppies?? If that is the case we need a page showing - ok - this version of puppy will run fine with these versions of apps... something like that.

5. One of my friend is suggesting - Windows is just one flavor, without variations though with a few versions. But linux has many flavors and very confusing to know what flavor offers what. New users have to read a lot. This approach offers freedom, but creates ocean of info absolutely impossible to understand before making decisions. It is just a stroke of luck for me to try Puppy, which worked very fine - as if it is made for my machine alone.

6. People generally compare any system with Win family, that is natural. But someone should sensitize wider public on the fact that all this puppy comes at no cost and of course with several other benefits. Most linux critics argue that it cannot meet executive or office desktop requirements. But in reality, people do face issues with either system.

On the minor points (my personal view, could be wrong): Desktops of older puppies are more appealing and useful than the new ones. Why the big clock and calender was removed? May be a standard package should be made available that provides different screens. I tried different existing desktop apps from the forum except one or two a majority of them are not that appealing. Even those one or two - adjusting them is an issue. But this is not essential at all, even if is done, it adds more to cosmetic side only.

On Libero office - the Writer (word component) is not showing the annotations inserted in 'docx' file on Win system. Only the base file shown. I am sure, it is not for puppy team to consider. But just to bring to your notice.

A useful program built into puppy that can automate swapping kernels and even handle non-puppy kernels like Slackware. I'm not a coder so a program like this is probably vaporware but anyway who knows, that is top of my wishlist.

A useful program built into puppy that can automate swapping kernels and even handle non-puppy kernels like Slackware. I'm not a coder so a program like this is probably vaporware but anyway who knows, that is top of my wishlist.

If moving a couple files in a file manager is too difficult, you probably shouldn't be swapping kernels around all willy nilly - may as well request trigger extensions for machine guns so kids can play with them easier._________________Web Programming - Pet Packaging 100 & 101

A useful program built into puppy that can automate swapping kernels and even handle non-puppy kernels like Slackware. I'm not a coder so a program like this is probably vaporware but anyway who knows, that is top of my wishlist.

Apart from technosaurus' concerns , you can't swap puppy with non-puppy kernels. Puppy kernels are made-to-order, you can't just swap it with non-puppy kernels and expect it to work._________________Fatdog64, Slacko and Puppeee user. Puppy user since 2.13.
Contributed Fatdog64 packages thread

Can I suggest just minor enhancements while enhancing quality control (i.e. making sure all installed items work properly, no dead menu icons, etc) and standardizing certain items that one would normally expect to be standardized in a distro (i.e. installation processes, creating save files, package management all without having to program in special changes).

No disrespect intended by my suggestions. Just an end-user prospective on things. Remember, Puppy Linux isn't just for programmers and computers are supposed to make life easier....

A useful program built into puppy that can automate swapping kernels and even handle non-puppy kernels like Slackware. I'm not a coder so a program like this is probably vaporware but anyway who knows, that is top of my wishlist.

Apart from technosaurus' concerns , you can't swap puppy with non-puppy kernels. Puppy kernels are made-to-order, you can't just swap it with non-puppy kernels and expect it to work.

Slaxerpup used a Slackware kernel - using it a the moment. Someone on this forums used a Slax kernel on 4.12.

However my main wish would be for Puppy to have the facility to drop in a newer kernel aided by this program giving Puppies greater longevity. This program could automate the process of sorting compatibility eg 4.12 with a Wary kernel. This is a far better scenario than mount this and mount that business and makes it easier for the end user. Yes I get dropping in kernels from other distros is not easy but it can be done again Slaxerpup.

Slaxerpup used a Slackware kernel - using it a the moment. Someone on this forums used a Slax kernel on 4.12.

I am sorry, whatever slaxerpup is using, it is *not* the stock slackware kernel. Stock slackware kernel *does not* use aufs, and without aufs puppy will not even bother to boot.
As for using Slax kernel - it happens that Slax share architectural design as puppy --> it uses layered filesystems too, so it has aufs built into its kernel. But Slax kernel is not stock Slackware kernel, and an anecdote is not evidence enough.

My statement still stands - in general you can't swap puppy kernels with non-puppy kernels.

As for Iguleder's comments - let me help to qualify it: you can switch puppy kernels from one to another - within reason, that is, as long as the version difference is not too great, as you can see from the thread you refer. If, on the other hand, you try to put kernel 3.9 from latest slacko to puppy 4.x, for example - your chance of success would be very slim indeed._________________Fatdog64, Slacko and Puppeee user. Puppy user since 2.13.
Contributed Fatdog64 packages thread